2011 Hyundai Genesis

Hyundai seems to not only try to copy German cars for their upscale sedan, but is now also doing one of these "why bother" refresh. Just like Mercedes and BMW.
( The revised car is on top, current one is the bottom picture)

The small changes are really not needed.
I can't imagine someone just thinking "Yes, now I'll buy one!. All I was waiting for are new vents on the front bumper!"

Click on the title for more.

Peugeot 508

The "Concept 5" Peugeot showed last year was already pretty conservative.
And a watered down version of it won't look amazing.

This is what their new large sedan will be like.
Nothing great looking so far.

The Citroen C5 is actually still more modern looking.

This won't be one of these Euro only car I wish we could have over here...

2011 Honda Accord

Just small changes.
Front and rear.
I also notice the horrible "Honda beige interior" seems to have been replace by a classier 2 tone cream and dark.

Slightly better gas mileage, rear view camera etc...

I still think the sedan is the worse looking car in the segment.
Everything else seems to look better.

The coupe still looks great.
I always wonder why Honda doesn't use the coupe design as a bases for the sedan...

2011 Ford Mondeo

Just a new face, not an all new car yet.
And of course, we still don't get it.

But the big news for us is the all new 2.0 Liter Ecoboost engine.
With 237 hp, it shouldn't have any problems powering the new Explorer as a base engine.
Pretty amazing numbers for a small 2.0 Liter engine.

More pictures of the all new 2011 Kia Optima

Quite an amazing looking sedan.
Especially considering most of the competition.

It looks like I'll be able to get behind the wheels in a few weeks, and report on the car.
I cannot wait.

2012 VW Beetle Cabrio

No more "New Beetle".
The next one is just the Beetle.

It is lower, wider, more luxurious. Interior uses Audi like plastics.
Smaller dash includes a second glovebox , facing the passenger. Just like the old Bug.
And 3 extra gauges sit on top of the dash.
Dash face now matches exterior color.

And here are some of the US specs.
A concept version should be shown at the Los Angeles auto show this November.

2011 Lexus IS

I can't really tell if there is any difference. Really.

This 2011 model is for Japan.
I guess we can see LEDs in the headlights, maybe the bumper has changed a bit...

This car is getting long in the tooth....

More pictures of the 2011 Suzuki Swift

A really nice looking car .

But for once, I do prefer the 5 door to the 3 door.
Proportions seem to be off in the 3 door version somehow.

Unlike the Fiesta which looks great either way, the Swift seems to be better with "all the doors"...

Mercedes SLS AMG E-Cell

They told us it was coming: an all electric version of the new SLS sports car.
It will have 519hp and will to 0 to 60 in 4 seconds.

At a dealer near you in 2013.

The future of sports cars???

2011 Smart

Looks like some very small changes are coming up for the Smart.
Is it enough?

At least in the US, sales have been worse and worse.
It just seem like everyone who wanted one already has one.

The new Scion iQ might be the last nail in the coffin.
The Scion/Toyota is wider and looks much more solid and stable than the Smart.

We'll see...

More pictures of the Audi A1

The one we're not getting here...

I think this interior puts the aging A3 to shame.
But at the same time, if the A1 looks that good, imagine what the next A3 interior will be like...

BMW sub 1 series car

More illustrations.

We should see the real thing sometimes in 2012, unless they show us a concept version before.
It would be priced between the Mini and the 1 series.

All new MG3

The Zero concept will become the new MG3 for production.

The new MG6 has been getting really good reviews in Europe where it is compared to the Euro Focus.
I guess this will compete with the Fiesta.

Chinese MG seems to be doing pretty well.

2012 Mercedes CLS

Looks like the real thing this time.

And I still do not think it is an improvement, in any way, over the current model.
The current car is one of the best looking sedan ever, and nothing I see here improves on it.

It follows the current "mach square" Mercedes trend.
The current interior is also splendid. I can't imagine much better in the new one.

Some cars just shouldn't be redesigned....

2011 Honda Odyssey video

I don't hate it like so many people here.
I actually think it is one of the more stylish minivans in the US now.

Still, nothing compared to what they can get in Europe or Japan. But I think it is what people want in the US.
I predict a big hit for Honda.

2011 Chevrolet Orlando

The one we will not be getting in the US.

The Orlando was supposed to replace the HHR over here.
I wonder now what they'll do with the HHR.
The Equinox starts at about $4000 more, so not really replacing it at all.

A crossover version of the Volt, kind of similar to the Orlando, is still planned for us.
But that will be even more expensive...

Another 2011 Ford Explorer teaser

This one almost showing boobs.

And what looks like a cave entrance from the hatchback.
What we see also means there are 2 seats in the 3rd row. I guess.

Or not...

2012 Cadillac Escalade???

Not sure at all if these are real or not.
But they do look pretty realistic.
Showing a next Escalade obviously sharing a lot with the Buick enclave and Chevrolet Traverse.
That would mean a 3.6 Liter V6 instead of a big V8, and a more car like behavior.

But it also seems too.. quiet, or tasteful, to be an Escalade...

Again, it does look pretty real though.
What do you think?

2011 Honda Odyssey

Looking much better than the outgoing model. (Anything would have helped)
And nothing really new.

Lots of grey, like in most Hondas. Or beige.
And a ridiculously small sunroof.

2011/12 Chrysler Sebring

This is just an illustrations (form AutomotiveRenderings)

But it is no secret Chrysler is getting a revised Sebring ready for the end of this year.
It will be getting an all new interior, new front end and rear, and the new V6, but that's about it.
So it might end up looking close to this picture above.

Which I think is far from enough.

Sure, there is so much they can do without redesigning the whole car. But still.
This "new" Sebring, as they will try to market it, won't steer many people away from their Camrys and Accords.
And with the new Sonata already out, a new Malibu and stunning Kia Optima coming soon, things won't be getting easier for Chrysler.

Where is the Lancia Delta based Chrysler model they showed us last year?
And the new 300 that's taking forever to come out?

I think the big news for Chrysler will be the arrival of the Fiat 500 in the US.
Bringing a bit of coolness to Chrysler showrooms.

More pictures of the small Buick sedan

Still the Chinese version called the Excelle GT.

It is offered there with a base 1.8 Liter engine with 138hp. Similar to what we'll get here on the Chevrolet Cruze.
But instead of the Cruze's 1.4 Liter turbo option, the Excelle's top engine is a larger 1.6 Liter turbo with 181hp.

Mini Countryman in the street

I think it actually looks nice.

The kind of cars that could look much better in the flesh.

But I have to say, chrome looks good on Minis. (like on most British cars)
Much better than the blacked out grille...

Opel Astra Sports Tourer

The wagon version of the Astra is another good looking Opel.
It also seems like a junior version of the Insignia wagon, a good thing.

We are getting the sedan version of this car next year as a compact Buick sedan.
This would make a great looking compact Buick wagon.

But with Ford not bringing the new Focus wagon over here, I won't hold my breath....